Mail-holder.



PATBNTED MAR. 3 1, 1908- A No. 883,198.

T. A. HILL.

MAIL HOLDER.

nruour'mx nun 0012a, 1901- yw Y W THOMAS A. I-IILL, OF BIVINS, TEXAS.

MAIL-HOLDER.

Application filed October 28, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. HILL, a

citizen of the United States, residing at,

Bivins, in the county of Cass and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Mail- Iiolder, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mail holders and is particularly designed for use by rural free delivery carriers.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and e'fiicient means whereby newspapers and other pieces of mail other than letters may be held in groups at points where they can be conveniently reached by the carrier, each group being designated by a letter of the alphabet.

Another object is to provide a holder of this character which can be conveniently carried in the hand and which can be used both upon the desk and within the vehicle used by the carrier, said. holder taking the place of the pigeon holes usually provided within the postofiice for the use of the carrler.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is shown the preferred form of the invention.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of the holder, the lid thereof being raised. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section therethrough. Fig. 3 is an elevation of two adjoining package holders. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 designates a box-like receptacle having a lid 2 hingedly connected to it and designed. to be fastened in closed position in any suitable manner as by means of straps 3 and 4. A handle 5 may be fastened to one face of the box so that the same can be conveniently carried in the hand when closed. A longitudinal strip 6 is secured within the receptacle and extends longitudinally thereof and as shown particularly in Fig. 2 this strip is disposed some distance from the bottom of the receptacle so as to provide a space in which small boxes and the like can be placed. Secured upon the inner faces of the walls of the receptacle are series of loops 7 arranged in pairs, one loop of each pair being engaged by the looped end of an elasticband Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 31, 1908.

Serial No. 399,549.

9. This band extends loosely through the other loop of the pair and is folded upon itself as indicated at 10 and provided at its end with a buckle 11 of any suitable formthrough which the band extends. One of these bands is provided fdr each set of loops 7 and said bands are arranged along the inner face of the walls of the receptacle, each one of them being indicated by a letter of the alphabet, and said letters being located in proper succession from A to Z. The band designated by the letter A, is preferably located upon that wall of the receptacle to which the lid is connected and it is so positioned as to be nearest the user when the receptacle is placed in front of him with the lid to the left. Another series of similar adjustable bands 12 is arranged along one face of the strip 6 while upon the other face thereof is located another band 13 which is also adjustable in the same manner as in bands 9 and 12.

In using the: device herein described the same is placed open upon a desk and newspapers and similar pieces of mail are arranged alphabetically within the respective pockets formed by the bands 9, all mail ad dressed to parties whose names begin with A being arranged alphabetically and routed within the A pocket and the same system being followed in connection with all mail to be placed within the case. The bands 12 connected to the straps 6 form additional pockets which can be used in connection with any one or more of the lettered pockets should the same prove too small to hold the mail intended for them. The receptacle is designed to be placed in front of the seat of the vehicle used by the carrier and with the lid 2 at the left of the carrier. The mail to be distributed at the first delivery box is removed from the pocket containing it and placed. within the elastic pocket formed by band 13. The carrier can there fore readily grasp and remove it upon reaching the box. The mail to be delivered at the next box is then removed from the pocket containing it and placed within the pocket formed by bandv 13. This operation is continued throughout the route.

It will be seen that by providing a receptacle such as described it becomes necessary for the carrier to sort the mail only once, to wit, when it is placed in the proper pockets within the receptacle and it is only removed from them during the trip and just prior to its delivery. The handling of the mail is therefore greatly facilitated. It is obvious that the bands can be readily adjusted by means of the buckles so that said bands will be at all times under tension and exert a binding pressure upon the mail retained by them. Boxes and other parcels may be placed upon the bottom of the receptacle where they can be readily reached.

In order to facilitate the delivery of letters the device can, if desired, be provided with two additional pockets upon the strip 6 and formed by elastic bands 14 and 15, each of which has a tab 16 so that the band can be readily extended tb increase the size of the pocket. These bands are not provided with buckles as those heretofore described. The purpose of these additional bands is to hold letters designed for delivery at the next box or boxes. After the carrier has placed the papers and other large mail to be delivered, within the pocket formed by band 13 he can get all letters designed for the next box or boxes and place them within the pockets formed by the bands 14 and 15 so that upon leaving the vehicle he can readily grasp the letters as well as the papers,'etc. to be delivered.

What is claimed isi A device of the character described comprising a portable receptacle, a cross strip secured within the receptacle and spaced above the bottom thereof, and elastic independently adjustable straps secured upon. the inner faces of the walls of the receptacle,

elastic independently adjustable straps secured upon the cross strip, all of said straps being disposed above the bottom of the receptacle, the space formed below said straps and the cross strip constituting an article receiving compartment, a closure for the receptacle, and a handle.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS A. HILL.

Witnesses:

J. W. NELsoN, R. E. CLARK. 

